Shelving



H. T. REED.

(No Model.)

SHELVING.

Patented Mar. 22, 18877.

llNiTnn STATES PATENT I-IUGH T. REED, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

SHELVING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,691, dated March 22, 1887.

Application filed October El, 1886. Serial No. 215,778.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH T. REED, a. citi' zen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of -Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Shelving; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description oi' the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the sain e.

My invention consists of k nook down metallic shelving adapted for general purposessuch, for instance, as shown in a prior patent granted to me October (i, 1885, and in a prior application made by me May ll, 1886.

One object of this invention is to provide au improved construction in means i'orsustaining the shelves against the posts, so that the parts may be easily joined in erecting the shelving and quickly separated in taking it down.

Another object is to provide au improved method of conveying wires `for general usessuch as for telephones, electric lights, die.

The novel 'features ofv this invention are specifically pointed out in the claims at the close of the specification, and the construction and combination ofthe different parts are set forth in the following description and auncxed drawings.

The saine letters of reference indicate idolitical parts in all ofthe figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view ot' a section of two panels ot' the shelving. Fig. 2 illustrates the manner of attaching the screw-hook B to the post A in the threaded apertures a.. Fig. 3 indicates the manner of supporting the shelf C upon the screw-hook B. Figs. 4 and 7 are different views of a circular ila-nge for ends of posts and for attachment to base or ceiling, and Figs. 5 and 8 and 6 and 9 show modified 'forms of the saine for use on posts next to wall and in corners. Fig. 10 illustrates an open metallic shelf, C, said shelf being curved at corners to tit against cylindrical posts, and to be furnished, where required, with the rollers C2. Said shelf is made in one piece, and consists of long and short ribs perpendicular to each other at regular or irregular intervals, one or more longitudinal ribs to have a vertical thickness at the middle point thereof proportioned to the vertical thickness of the same ribs at either end thereof,

(Xo model.)

as fiveto three, more or less,as the length of shelf may require, and the said ribs to taper in vertical thickness from the middle point thereof toward and to either end from the greater to the lesser dimension, as shown in Fig. 1, and all portions of the upper surface of the longi tudinal ribs to he in the saine pla-ne, so as to give the maximum strength with the minimum weight to each shelf. Fig. 11 is a cross-seetion of Fig. 10, showing the ribs C* and the roller Cl of the shelf C. Fig. 12 illustrates a wooden shelf, O', a roller, O3, and suitablyformed ears D, attached to the said shelf, said ears to be provided with openings d to iit on thescrew-hooks B. Fig. 13 indicates the nianner of connecting two open metallic shelves by a clamp, c, placed so as to embrace the two side ribs, c* e4,- and Fig. 13 is a crossseetion sh owing its forni and manner of attachmentto ribs c4 e1. Fig. 14C indicates the manner of j oining 4two posts A. A by a brace, h, designed to support a rod in front of and near the top of the shelving, to which curtains may be attached, as indicated in Fig. 1. Fig. 15 shows an end elevation of shelvin ghaviug three posts, with one post shorter than the other two, the object being to provide a ledge or counter. Fig. 1G indicates the manner of attaching au annunciator, L, to a post, A, with wires Z in a tubular post. Fig. 17 shows an elect-ric bulb, M, attached to a post, A, having connectingwires within the post.

My shelving is composed, in the main, of corner posts A, preferably tubular, screwhooks B, and shelves C or C. rlhe posts are setn suitably-formed flanges E F G, t-o be fastened to or in the floor or other base, such as K. The posts are pierced with a vertical series of threaded apertures, e e, placed at any desired interval, and the screw-hooks B are screwed into said apertures, and when in position receive the corners of a shelt'iitting over the vertical portion and resting on the horizontal part thereof.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the posts A A may be connected by horizontal rods I as a support for curtains, or similar rods for curtains may be supported by the brace h. (Shown in Fig. 14.)

As shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12, I have designed a shelf for packages or heavy books, having two or more rollers, Gl or C, near its IOO front edge, said rollers, when in place, to have their upper surface slightly above the upper surface of the shelf, and when so placed to revolve on their axes when weights of packages or books are superimposed.

Fig. 15 illustrates a style of duplex shelving in which the top shelf of the lower portion thereof may be used as a counter.

I submit as a novelty in construction and device the use of the tubular post with the connecting tubular rods, as shown in Figs. 1 and 14, for the conveyance of Wires for annunciators and electric lighting, as indicated in Figs. 16 and 17. For the annuuciator L or the bulb M may be substituted a telephonebox, gas-burner, or faucet, and the tubular posts and rods may be used as speaking-tubes or to con- Vey Water, steam, and gas.

I claim as my invention-` 1.` In knockdown metallic shelving, the combination, With a suitable base, of vertical tubular supports or standards having screwthreaded openings at intervals along their surfaces and screw-threaded hooks for engagement u therewith, said hooks serving as supports for bination of the tubular supports ori standards for the same and their'base-soekets secured to a counter or base, and having electric conl ductors passing therethrough forvsignaling or illuminating purposes, substantially as described.

3. In knockdown metallic shelving, the sltele-VV tonized shelf composed of aseries ofilongitudinal ribs having transverse ribs at intervals, said longitudinal ribs having avertical thickl ness at their middle greater than at the ends i thereof, whereby strength and lightness are attained, said shelf having lrollers at the edges i thereof to prevent friction in bodies moving thereon, substantially as described.

4. In knockdown metallic shelving, the cornbination,with the base or counter K,thc tubular Ystandards or supports A, and their sockets secured thereto, and having theshelf-supporting hooks B, of the skeletonized Vcentrallystrengthened shelf C, supported on said hooks B, and the rods I, extending along the top of 5o 

